Defining Creativity

Something that comes up a lot when talking about art is creativity. Are some people naturally more creative? Is creativity something we all possess? Does creativity equal artistic or vise versa?

There is quite a bit to be said here. The Merriam-Webster definition of creativity is “the ability to make new things or think of new ideas”. Dictionary.com defines creativity as “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination”. Both definitions are vague enough in nature that one can begin to see that creativity doesn’t necessarily equate to artistic ability, though the two are commonly associated.

But why are they commonly associated? Let’s think about the following questions:

What is creativity to you? Do you consider yourself a creative person? Why? What characteristics do you associate with a person you would consider to be creative?

Chris Orwig of The Creative Fight states, “all art is creative but not all creativity is art”. Creativity can be anything from a painting to a new invention. I think what’s more important than finding a definition is considering *why* we have creative ability and how we can tap into it.

“Creativity is essential to life. It’s like the oxygen that gives us life and the sunshine that provides growth. Creativity is like an electric current to illuminate our path. It is a fire that reinvigorates our resolve to do what matters most. Creativity is hope when all seems lost. It sustains us so that we can thrive. When the creative juices flow, we become more productive and alive. We move forward and accomplish impossible tasks” - Chris Orwig

For the sake of this blog, let’s think about photography as a means of creative expression. You don’t have to produce a work of fine art in order to express yourself creatively. A snapshot alone can be therapeutic creative expressionism when there is intent; it is the process of experimenting with new ideas, methods, rules, patterns, etc. that ignites the spark of creativity.

Photography for Closure

The act of taking a photo means you’re intentionally taking a moment to remember something. A photograph becomes a documented memory the minute you release the shutter.

The art of documenting a memory also means that we can rest assured that certain moments won’t be forgotten. We may wake up the next morning forgetting all sorts of details from the day before, but a photo will remind us.

A single photo, just like a memory, can invoke a slew of emotions- happiness, sadness, nostalgia. There will always be photos we wish we had taken, and photos we wish we hadn’t or wish we could forget.

Don’t just document the good days. Document the bad days, the in-between days. Or document a feeling that your body and mind are otherwise unable to let go of.

A photograph offers an opportunity to release an emotion, a safe place to store a feeling or a memory, a physical momenta to hold on to. Creating a photograph gives your mind permission to release that memory- to let go of any negative feelings that might be associated with that memory.

Keepsakes aren’t just pretty things. The good and bad pieces our lives make us unique and are worth remembering- unless we want to forget. Unless we choose to let go and seek closure. A memory cannot be erased but a photograph can always be destroyed.

Slowing Down

The true art of photography demands that you slow down and think. I’m not talking about snapping pictures, I’m talking about creating meaningful, intentional art.

There are books and blogs written on this subject alone, and I’m not going to get into the technicalities of creating beautiful photography. But I am going to suggest you take the time to learn.

Learn the exposure triangle. Use manual. Learn to find the light, learn to use the light, to manipulate light, to *see* light. Focus. Composition. Learn the rules (and then forget the rules).

Create art.

Many photographers will recommend learning film photography because it forces you to be intentional. Film is expensive! You don’t want to mess up your shot. You don’t have the luxury of previewing your shot, ensuring you got it before moving on to the next. Whether you’re using film or digital, be intentional. Take. Your. Time.

Do it for the art, not for the moment. There is a difference between remembering a moment and expressing yourself as an artist; there is a time and a place for both of those things, but they are not to be confused.

Think of your camera as a paintbrush, your charcoal, your clay. Use it and manipulate it. Take the time to practice and learn your art.

Therapeutic Photography

I used to think that social work was my career and photography was my hobby. It’s become more complicated than that, though. I know beyond a reason of a doubt that there is a therapeutic value to photography of which we have hardly scratched the surface.

In a world full of selfies, what is it that we’re trying to say? What are we hoping to perceive? Why are we hiding behind our screens, tucked safely away in our Instagram accounts?

Why is the camera feature on a brand new smartphone such a high selling point?

I would argue that it boils down to perception and documentation. We are obsessed with how we are perceived online. And we are obsessed with documenting our lives. These two things can become messily intertwined.

The introduction of digital photography opened so many doors for anyone with the slightest interest in photography. Suddenly it was all about instant gratification; it was more than just no longer having to wait weeks to develop film. We no longer needed to have a firm grasp on technical aspects because our cameras started doing that for us. Exposure triangle? No thanks, I’ll just keep it on auto…

In a way, a major piece of the art of photography is lost somewhere in here. Photographs become snapshots. Moments are captured, but the message is lost.  What we are left with is a hard drive full of occasions, photos taken because that’s-just-what-we-do and because maybe one day we’ll actually make that photobook we said we’d make last year.

What if we took the time to dig deeper? What if we could bring back the meaning and the art behind a photograph? What if we could document our moments in a way that feeds our soul and caters to our own perceptions in a way that communicates our emotions in an honest way?

Photography is an art, and art, like other forms of therapy, is expressive communication. Enter: therapeutic photography.